herpet-

UK/hɜːpɛt/UK/hɜːpiːt/

prefix

reptile

OriginAncient Greek ἑρπετ- (herpet-) ← Proto-Indo-European *sérpeti →
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Meanings

herpet-1

prefix
  1. reptile

herpet-2

prefix
  1. herpes

Origin

herpet- · prefix

  1. Proto-Indo-European*serp-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*sérpeti
  3. Ancient Greekἕρπω (hérpō)
  4. Ancient Greekἑρπετόν (herpetón)
  5. Ancient Greekἑρπετ- (herpet-)
  6. Englishherpet-

From the Ancient Greek ἑρπετ- (herpet-), the stem of ἑρπετόν (herpetón, “serpent, creeping animal, reptile”), from ἕρπω (hérpō, “I creep”); compare herpet-².

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

herpet- · prefix

  1. Ancient Greekἑρπητ-
  2. Englishherpet-

From the Ancient Greek ἑρπητ- (herpēt-), the stem of ἕρπης (hérpēs, “a creeping, shingles”), from ἕρπω (hérpō, “I creep”); compare herpet-¹.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

herpet-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/herpet-

MLA

“herpet-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/herpet-. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “herpet-,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/herpet-.

Source: herpet- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.